Making A Difference

The reason for living series:

Making. A Difference

Jude 20-25

Theme: God gives us three choices that make a difference in our lives.

Welcome to Mountain View Baptist Church! What a beautiful week God has given to us. If you are first time guest, thank you for joining us today. We are thrilled to have guests with us. So, we can better connect with you, please stop by our welcome center and pick up one of our guest bags as you drop off your connection card.

It is great to see you who are members and regular attenders today. Thank you for being in church.

In 1977 when Steve Jobs introduced the Apple computer and when Bill Gates in 1975 founded Microsoft, it was said by many they made a difference in our world. In many ways, we must admit, the regular use of computers, cell phones, and watches trace back to the decision that these men made to develop something that would soon be normal in our lives.

While we were in Europe a couple of weeks ago, a computer glitch in the airlines grounded our flight for 1 ½ hours. When the county wide computer system was hijacked last year, literally everything that was normal stopped and changed until they corrected it.

While it is true that discoveries and events have made a difference in our lives, how can we make a spiritual difference in our world. What are the choices we make that makes a difference in our lives.

God gives us a second reason for living: Making A Difference.

Choice 1. . .

Make a difference by our maturing lives v. 20

This holy faith refers to the body of truth found in the gospel Jude 3.

The wisest and best decision we can make is what starts with us. Making a difference in our lives means we make a personal decision to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. Just as creation begins with God, salvation begins with God. A man needs to a Savior and so Jesus came to die on a cross to give us a new life. Accepting Christ means God comes into our lives and dwells there. His presence makes a huge difference in our lives.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)

This holy faith means it is God’s work in our lives. The work of salvation is the beginning of God’s work in my life called sanctification where God is changing me into His image.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)

Jim Berg said: “You have to be different to make a difference. You cannot change anything by adding more of the same. The greatest spiritual impact is made upon people by someone who is different from them. Others must see someone like Christ in us—not someone like the rest of the world—if we are to have any godly influence on them.”

The foundation for our Christian life is “holy faith” which links back to v.3-faith once delivered to the saints. In order for us to build up our faith, we depend on what God reveals in His Word. The Word of God is certainly central in our spiritual growth. I have yet to meet a Christian who ignores his Bible is strong and fruitful in his spiritual life. We must daily spend devotional time in the Word to seek the mind of God. This means we are to study the Word regularly, in a disciplined way, so that we can better understand. What He is teaching us. We are to be attached to God’s Word. There should be a copy near us or with us always. Most have them on phones, computers, or tablets.

The Center of Bible Engagement compiled extensive research findings by Arnold Cole.

In the study, they polled 40,000 people ages 8 to 80. They wanted to see how people were engaging in Scripture. As they compiled the results, they made a profound discovery they were not even looking for when they originally planned the survey.

The study indicated that when people engaged in the Scripture one time a week, which could include a pastor instructing the congregation to “open your Bibles…”, there was negligible effect on some key areas of their life. The same result was true if people engaged in the Scriptures two times a week. The result equaled little to no effect.

Three times a week saw a small indication of life. There was a slight pulse, a faint heartbeat. Something moved in the behavior of the person engaging in Scripture.

The eye opener happened when Bible engagement reached at least four times a week.

A steady climb of impact would have been expected, but that was not the case. The level was basically stagnant over days one and two, with a small bump on day three. But when day four was reached, the effects spiked in an astounding way. The stunning findings included the following:

Feeling lonely drops 30% Anger issues drop 32% Bitterness in relationships drops 40% Alcoholism drops 57% Sex outside of marriage drops 68% Feeling spiritually stagnant drops 60% Viewing pornography drops 61% Sharing your faith jumps 200% Discipling others jumps 230%

Reading and obeying God’s Word makes a difference in your life. I dare say for many here today, if you are like most Christians, you haven’t picked up your Bible this week one time.

Our lives impact others by what they see in our lives. We impact unbelievers in our community as they see our lives, as they live next to us.

We build up ourselves means it is daily making right choices about starting our day with God and then praying v.20

The power for building our Christian life comes from prayer. The Word of God and prayer go together in spiritual growth. Praying in the Holy Spirit means to pray according to the leading of the Spirit. It well been said, “Prayer is not getting man’s will done in heaven-it is getting God’s will done on earth.”

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14–15)

Evangelist Billy Sunday used to give his new believers three rules for success in the Christian life. Each day they were to read the Bible and let God talk to them. They were to pray and talk to God. They were to witness and talk to others about God.

Now that is making a difference.

Choice 2. . .

Making a difference by our internal peace v.21

We are to remain steadfast in our love for God. This means we are to make sure our love for Him is the center of our life. We nurture and grow in our love for Him. This does not mean to keep ourselves saved because saved people are preserved in Jesus Christ v.1.

The teaching here is we are to remain in His love by yielding and allowing God to work in our lives. The word translated “looking” means earnestly expecting. It describes an attitude of life that is motivated by the promise of our Lord’s return. He is our hope, our anchor, and our stability in the storms of life.

While things may be going on around us, we take comfort that He is in us. People with internal peace becomes a great testimony to those around them.

It is not that God’s love is dependent on their actions, but their actions are a result of experiencing God’s love in their lives.

Choice 3. . .

Making a difference by evangelism v.22

Apparently, some of the new believers have not grown so they were being led astray by false teaching. We are to show our love and compassion on them and helping them come back.

One of the dangers of being an older Christian is a lack of patience and compassion for new believers. We need to have compassion on them and on those who don’t know Christ.

We are building a new auditorium and it is a very expensive project. At our building banquets we have given much. One way you can contribute beyond your giving, is to help reach others. There is a steady flow of guests and will be next week. Helping them to come back will be a decision to be friendly, to look for opportunities to talk with new people, give up your seat or your parking lot, so that guests might know they are among compassionate people. Make a difference in the lives of the people who attend MVBC.

If God used you just to win one soul to Jesus Christ, think that would mean—just one soul. If God used you to bring just one soul to Jesus Christ, you have brought to Christ something that is worth more than all of this wide world.[1]

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Jesus is saying there is nothing in this world that is greater or costs more than the soul of an individual. Our desire should be to help them turn to Christ.

I remember a preacher telling a story. He said that in his study, or in the study of a particular pastor, there was a painting. That painting was a painting of a ship that was sinking, and the ship had already gone down. The lifeboats were out on the water, and the people were in the water. And, this particular lifeboat that was painted had a man leaning over the railing of the lifeboat, and he’s extending his hand to one of the people in the water, swimming around. And, the man in the water is lifting his hand up, and there hands are about to meet. And, the little boy who had not yet started school came in and he looked at that picture. Of course, the picture was to illustrate to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. And, the little boy studied that picture and looked at it for a while. And then, he asked his daddy this question: he said, “Daddy, is that man trying to save those people, or is he just shaking hands with them?” Every preacher just ought to ask himself that question. And, every Christian who comes to church on Sunday morning and greets those round about him who may not know the Lord Jesus ought to ask that question.[2]

Jesus is our example of what He means by making a difference. He left the glories of heaven, came to the agonies of the cross, died in utter despair upon the cross. He gave His all for one reason:

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Jesus is our example of one who came to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of the entire world.

First Responders Day, Open House, Easter, Christmas, BBQ’s, Ladies events all have an intended purpose to reach our community, our family, our neighbors, and our friends with the gospel. This is why we go out and put tracts on doors and let people know that Jesus is our only hope.

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? Will you let Jesus make a difference in your life today?

Whose life are you making a difference? Making a difference means to improve a person or situation. God is saying to us the reason for living today is the make a difference in the world you live in and the people you come in contact with.

If you think you are too small or insignificant to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito. (African Proverb).

[1]Adrian Rogers, “Rescue the Perishing,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Jud 22–23. [2]Adrian Rogers, “Rescue the Perishing,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Jud 22–23.